Wednesday 30 May 2012 20.16 EDT
First published on Wednesday 30 May 2012 20.16 EDT

A gunman who opened fire at a Seattle cafe on Wednesday, killing three people, critically wounding two others and setting off a citywide manhunt apparently shot himself as officers closed in on him, authorities said.

He was listed in critical condition at a local hospital.

Police searching for the suspect also had to respond to another fatal shooting near the city's downtown. They say a man killed a woman in an apparent carjacking and fled in a black SUV. Authorities said late on Wednesday they believe one man was responsible for both attacks.

"At this time, we feel pretty confident that we have the suspect in both cases," said Assistant Seattle Police Chief Nick Metz.

The latest bout of deadly gun violence to hit the city worried Seattle's leaders and prompted police to consider increasing patrols in high-crime areas. The three deaths bring the number of homicides so far this year to 19, compared with 21 in all of last year.

Gunfire erupted late on Wednesday morning at Cafe Racer, a restaurant and music venue north of the University of Washington. The gunman was described as a man in his 30s wearing dark clothes.

Police released two photos from inside the cafe, apparently taken from a security camera. One shows a man walking into the establishment, with a woman nearby reading a book. Another photo shows stools overturned, and the man standing and holding what appears to be a handgun.

Two men died at the scene. A woman from the cafe died at a hospital.

Evan Hill, who lives above the building where the shooting happened, said the cafe was an artists' collective and performance space."It's the strangest place to think of a shooting," said Hill, who heard four to five shots.

Units of police officers marched by with rifles and shotguns, knocking on doors and checking driveways and yards in the neighbourhood of single-family, bungalow-style homes, restaurants and businesses.